Here's the latest power rankings after yet another wild and wacky week in the always-tough MIAC:
1. UST
2. Bethel
3. GAC
4. SMU
5. Concordia
6. (tie) Augsburg & CSB
7. (tie) St. Olaf & Hamline
8. Carleton
9. St. Kate's
10. Macalester
The Tommie bulldozer keeps plowing right along; undefeated and unscathed, knocking everything out of its way. Presumably, that trend should continue on Wednesday night against St. Kate's but a roadie to Moorhead next Saturday to go up against the Corn is in the offing and that's always a dangerous proposition for anyone going up there - no matter who you are. Bethel meanwhile has now won nine straight; including yesterday's home win over CSB as the Royals are edging closer and closer to securing that second seed. They could easily stretch that streak to eleven with a trip down Snelling Avenue to Macalester on Wednesday night before hosting Augsburg next Saturday. A preview of things to come could likely be on 2-18-15 when the Royals host UST.
I give the Gusties the nod at the third spot after they took care of business at Carleton this last Wednesday night and then dispatched St. Olaf yesterday in the friendly confines of Lund Center. They're not completely out of the running for that second spot yet but a very tough week lies ahead for GAC: at Concordia on Wednesday night and then home on Saturday to host SMU. Speaking of the Cardinals, although I have them in the fourth spot today, I have to give them major props after yesterday's wild overtime win over Concordia; a game which they could have easily lost. It somehow makes up for the last two drubbings suffered at the hands of Bethel and UST, respectively. They NEEDED this one and they got it. Concordia needed this game as well and didn't get it and it must have been an awfully long and exhausting trip back up to Moorhead thinking about what might have been. The Cobbers could still get one of the top four seeds but they're not only going to have to take care of business on their end, they're going to have to get some help too - and a LOT of it. And even though the next two opponents for the Corn will be at home in cavernous Memorial Auditorium, don't expect either GAC or UST to be in a charitable mood. The bottom line here is that yesterday's loss in Winona most likely now has Concordia staring at the fifth seed.
Things got very, very interesting for that sixth spot after yesterday's games. CSB had a terrible week; dropping a home game to St. Olaf last Wednesday and then getting unceremoniously dumped by Bethel over at Robertson Center yesterday. One can forgive the loss to Bethel, of course, but the home loss to St. Olaf may be the game that does in the Blazers playoff hopes as SMU will come calling this coming Wednesday night in St. Joe. Augsburg managed to get themselves in very good shape - at least for the time being anyway - for that sixth spot with that thrilling come-from-behind win in overtime yesterday against St. Kate's. But now comes the VERY hard part for the Auggies: Four straight roadies; including the huge showdown at Skoglund Center this coming Wednesday night against St. Olaf. The Oles are unpredictable and have been able to win some games that you normally wouldn't expect them to win; including up at St. Joe this last Wednesday night against CSB. If Afton Wolter and Betsey Daly are hot from behind the arc, look out! Hamline is still alive as well as they hung on for dear life against Macalester yesterday and they have to take care of business at venerable Hutton Arena this coming week - and a little help from others wouldn't hurt either. Needless to say, the fight for that sixth spot could very well be the most intriguing part of the late season stretch in the MIAC.
Fire away with thoughts.
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